Floor drain



Sept. 11, 1951 sc 2,567,355

FLOOR DRAIN Filed 001. 4, 1949 u'yqf.

H I I 45 IN V EN TOR.

A 7' TORNE' VS bio/521155505201 Patented Sept. 11, 1951 2,567,355 FLOOR DRAIN John H. Schmid, Erie, Pa., assignor to J. A. Zurn Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa.

Application October 4, 1949, Serial No. 119,420

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to floor drains and particularly to a drain adapted to be permanently mounted in a floor, flush with the surface thereof to provide for more efiicient disposal of liquid materials to be conducted. to waste.

It is desirable in many instances to provide a. floor drain in floors of rooms or establishments wherein food handling or storage machinery is installed. In any installation where food handling or storage machinery is employed, means must be provided for receiving Waste liquids therefrom and disposing of the same with assurance that no contaminated waste material will be permitted to surge backwardly or in any other way reach the food handling or storing equipment. Such machinery or equipment may include any number or types of food processing mechanisms or refrigerating and other storage cabinets or may also include laundry equipment or facilities for handling other materials that must be kept free of contamination. In the use of such equipment certain liquid products often must be disposed of as waste andv the common manner of so doing has been to connect a conduit directly from the piece of equipment to a sewer or the like. By such an arrangement waste 'materials are disposed of but the conduits extending from the equipment to. the sewer soon become contaminated and in many instances gases and/or back-surging liquid may return up the conduits to the equipment, thus contaminating the food or other materials therein.

A more efficient and desirable arrangement is to permit the equipment to discharge its waste materials, not directly into a conduit leading to a sewer, but into a large collection area providing for free escape of gas or upwardly surging waste without its being permitted to enter the equipment since such equipment will have its drain well above the floor drain with a substantial air gap intervening.

By the present invention applicant has provided a floor drain suitable for disposing of all waste material from a large number of pieces of equipment, or for general use in laundries,

homes and the like. The floor drain of the present invention provides a relatively large well or sump having its top surface flush with the surface of the floor and a large-area strainer at the bottom thereof disposed entirely below the floor surface. Thus the installation provides a safety feature as to all fixtures or equipment in the area being drained and which have overflow rims higher than the installed drain. The drain of the present invention also contemplates connections whereby fresh Water may be discharged into the well to effect thorough flushing thereof at selected times or to provide for a continuous flow of flushing water to prevent the accumulation of any contaminating materials.

The present invention also includes a floor drain smoothly curved and constructed so that large quantities of waste liquids will flow smooth- .ly therethrough without splashing and wherein no corners or pockets exist for the accumulation of any contaminating solids or other materials.

The large increase in recent years in the number of restaurants, bars, eating establishments, storage houses for food and similar structures, has created a tremendous demand for this type of drain, which eliminates the contamination and splashing so detrimental to the cleanliness of the said establishment.

Accordingly, itis an object of this invention to provide a floor drain having a body of simple and economical construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a, floor drain wherein a continuous air gap is provided between the drain and the source of waste material, such air gap being commonly knownin the trade alsoas safe waste and indirect waste.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a floor drain having means permitting either intermittent or continuous flushing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor drain having smooth, continuously curved surfaces to eliminate pockets or corners which might accumulate dirt.j

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a floor drain so constructed that waste materials flowing thereinto will be caused to enter the drain with a smooth motion, thus eliminating all splashing and possible contamination of equipment thereabout.

Further objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of an embodiment of the ipresent invention. The section of the left portion of Fig. 1 is taken on the line l-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the drain shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, numeral l indicates an integral, one-piece annular wall structure defining the body portion of the floor drain, The inside of the annular wall I defines a vertical passageway 2 through the body for the reception and disposal of waste materials. The

body portion I comprises an upper well or sump portion 3 having an outwardly fiared flange 4 at its upper end and joined thereto by a smoothly curved wall portion 5. The wall of the well portion 3 is smoothly and gradually curved downwardly and inwardly to 6 from where it extends inwardly and upwardly to define an annular, upwardly facing, concave seat 7. The wall then extends downwardly to define a discharge portion 8, concentric to, but of lesser diameter than the well portion 3. As clearly shown in the drawings, the well portion 3 and the discharge portion 8 are joined by the intermediate portion 6, which latter forms a seat for a strainer and the junctures of the inner surface of all three portions comprise smoothly curved continuous surfaces providing for smooth and easy flow of liquid materials and the elimination of sharp corners or deep pockets in which sediment or other materials can collect to such an extent as to render their removal diflicult. The annular seat I receives a downwardly extending terminal edge portion 9 of a dome-shaped strainer ID.

The strainer IIl may be'of cast metal or may be of any other suitable material, such for instance as stamped sheet metal, but is preferably ofsubstantially hemispherical shape and provided with suitable slots or openings I I providing for passage of liquid from the well portion 3 to the discharge portion 8 while retaining large objects or articles that might clog the discharge portion or a sewer conduit. If desired, the strainer may be provided with a series of round or other shaped openings instead of the elongated slots illustrated. By providing a strainer of dome shape, a greater straining area is provided than would be available in a fiat strainer of the same projected area, thus insuring longer trouble-free operation without the necessity of removing and cleaning the strainer.

As is also clearly shown in Fig. 1, the uppermost portion of the strainer I is well below the plane defined by the flange 4, thus providing the air gap between the surface of the floor and the strainer, referred to previously. This construction permits large volumes of liquid to enter the drain without forming a pool or free liquid surface'at or above the level of the fioor.

The construction of the strainer I 0 and seat 'I are such that the strainer may be readily removed by merely lifting it upwardly through the well portion and the inner surface of the drain may be scrubbed or fiushedand all sediment or deposits readily and easily removed from the entire inner surface since all portions thereof merge smoothly with each other at relatively gently curved surfaces.

It is contemplated that the drain of the present invention be installed with the upper surface of the flange 4 forming a continuation of the floor surface and the body of the drain being imbedded in the material of the floor, such as concrete or the like.

For thepurpose of firmly locking the drain to the floor structure, a plurality of lugs I2 may be integrally cast or otherwise provided on the outer surface of the well portion. Such lugs will extend into the material of the floor and lock the drain in place.

The discharge portion 8 is of such diameter as to be readily received and caulked within the bell of a length of standard sewer tile or may be connected to a suitable trap. If desired, the portion 8 may be provided with screw threads for connection to a suitably threaded trap or waste line.

Most communities require that all connections to the sewers be through a suitable trap structure and it is contemplated that such a trap be installed between the floor drain of the present invention and the sewer. Such traps comprise a reversely bent conduit providing a low spot to collect water in sufiicient quantities to completely seal the conduit against rising gases or the like.

If desired, a fitting I 3 may be cast or otherwise provided on the outer surface of the body I close to the discharge portion 8. Such a fitting would have an opening I4 therethrough communicating with the interior of the drain and such opening may be provided with suitable internal threads, not shown, for the attachment of a water pipe. Such a pipe would be provided with a control valve whereby water may be introduced below the strainer to effect priming of a trap therebelow. It often happens, in the operation of drainage equipment of this type, that water or other liquids are disposed of in such quantities that they substantially fill the conduit below the drain and fiow therethrough for an appreciable period of time, thus drawing all air and other gases from the pipe below the trap and creating a partial vacuum therein. Upon. termination of the flow under such circumstances the partial vacuum below the trap will cause the liquid therein. to surge therepast to such an extent that it no longer constitutes an efficient or complete seal. 'In other cases the seal may be broken by evaporation of water from the trap. In such instances it is necessary to provide additional liquid or water to complete a proper seal in the trap. The fitting I3 permits the ready introduction of a suitable quantity of priming water.

The well portion 3 of the drain may also be provided with a fitting I5 which in turn may have internal threads in an opening I6 therethrough to receive a water pipe or the like. The opening I6 may be directed tangentially of the inner surface of the well 3 or may extend therein in a radial or any other desired direction. The fitting I5 and connections to a supply of fresh water, permit the drain to be flushed and cleaned at any desired time and also make it possible to provide a continuous flow of fresh clean water into the well, which is particularly advantageous during periods when unusually dirty or highly contaminated waste materials are being disposed of. The flushing feature also permits thorough cleaning of the seat 'I when the strainer I0 is removed.

As stated previously, the drain of the present invention may be constructed of any suitable materials, but it is contemplated that it be made of cast metal and it will be observed that the configuration of all portions provides adequate draft for the casting operation. It is also contemplated that the inner surface of the drain be coated with a vitreous enamel to further insure cleanliness and ease of cleaning.

It sometimes happens, especially after severe rainstorms, that water or the like will back up" through connections to a sewer system. In the event such sewer connections extend directly to a piece of equipment being drained, it is obvious that contamination of the equipment and any materials therein will certainly result. By the present invention applicant has provided a drain having a large well or sump capacity to accommodate large quantities of such backed up material. It is contemplated that the present drain have relatively large dimensions, for instance, the upper end of the well portion 3 should be about 12 inches in diameter. Even in the event the backing up is of a great enough volume to overflow the present drain, it will be obvious that as the well portion 3 becomes full, the rise from there on will be gradual and free of turbulence, thus eliminating splashing, which so often occurs where a strainer is flush with the surface of the floor. Such splashing can be of such magnitude, in conventional types of floor drain, as to cause contamination of any object or equipment placed above the drain, even though an air gap exists therebetween. The particular dome-shaped strainer further eliminates splashing by virtue of its outline and the smoothly curved vertically extending ribs between the slots H. The design of the strainer further renders it unusually easy to clean, when that becomes necessary.

The drawings and description herein have been limited to a drain being circular in horizontal section but clearly the invention could be incorporated in devices of other horizontal sectional shapes Likewise, either or both of the fittings !3 or 55 may be entirely eliminated. If desired both priming and flushing could be accomplished through the single fitting i5.

Although a single specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made. The specific description is not intended as a limitation of the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A floor drain comprising an annular wall of substantially uniform thickness having an out- 6 wardly flared flange at its upper end, said wall extending downwardly from said flange to define a well' portion, a fitting defining a passageway through said Wall into said well portion adapted for connection to a conduit to admit a flushing medium to said well portion, said wall then extending inwardly and upwardly, to define a narrow annular strainer seat at the bottom of said well portion, then downwardly to define a discharge portion, the junctures between said flange, well portion, seat, and discharge portion being defined by smoothly curved continuous surfaces whereby the entire inner surface of said drain is devoid of corners, and a dome-shaped strainer having a downwardly extending annular edge portion on said strainer seat, said strainer being entirely within said well portion.

JOHN H. SCI-IMID.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 218,799 Ullo Aug. 19, 1879 344,873 Scott July 6, 1886 976,108 Weiler Nov. 15, 1910 2,003,770 Goodhart June 4, 1935 2,142,343 Boosey Jan. 3, 1939 2,246,390 Smith June 17, 1941 2,473,279 Crocker June 14, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,213 Great Britain Feb. 11, 1915 

